Corporate Responsibility
Corporate Responsibility and Marketing Strategies
Deanna Williams
Dr. Antony Jacob
Contemporary Business
July 21, 2014
Social and ethical responsibility is how a company will use all its resources in a way that will benefit people and society not only physically but also socially. Social responsibility is defined as “The idea that businesses should not function amorally, but instead should contribute to the welfare of their communities”. Social responsibility covers not only shareholders but also employees, consumers and the world in general. Apple is one of the leading technology companies in the world. Apple is the first technology company who joined Fair Labor Association (FLA). Apple management makes sure that their production processes are run according to not only the laws at the local level but also at an international level. Apple asserts a code of ethics and standards for their suppliers and ensures that their suppliers fulfill the standards of Apple (Mickenzie, 2012).
Still Apple is facing problems regarding social and ethical behavior because of a diverse and complicated supply chain. The company itself has been very good at following the corporate social responsibility rules but as a supply chain they have struggled in the past. They have invested heavily in training and development of their suppliers and their workers. The industry is working through problems with long work hours, working conditions, underage hiring and child labor laws. With over 200 suppliers with the supply chain of Apple products, keeping a handle on all of these issues becomes extremely difficult. Apple has shown in its report of social responsibility that they have got 92 percent compliance with their standard of sixty work hours per week and they are still working closely with their suppliers to narrow down this gap. Apple has created extensive training not only for their employees but also with management in order to train them on the laws, labor rights and health
Deanna Williams
Dr. Antony Jacob
Contemporary Business
July 21, 2014
Social and ethical responsibility is how a company will use all its resources in a way that will benefit people and society not only physically but also socially. Social responsibility is defined as “The idea that businesses should not function amorally, but instead should contribute to the welfare of their communities”. Social responsibility covers not only shareholders but also employees, consumers and the world in general. Apple is one of the leading technology companies in the world. Apple is the first technology company who joined Fair Labor Association (FLA). Apple management makes sure that their production processes are run according to not only the laws at the local level but also at an international level. Apple asserts a code of ethics and standards for their suppliers and ensures that their suppliers fulfill the standards of Apple (Mickenzie, 2012).
Still Apple is facing problems regarding social and ethical behavior because of a diverse and complicated supply chain. The company itself has been very good at following the corporate social responsibility rules but as a supply chain they have struggled in the past. They have invested heavily in training and development of their suppliers and their workers. The industry is working through problems with long work hours, working conditions, underage hiring and child labor laws. With over 200 suppliers with the supply chain of Apple products, keeping a handle on all of these issues becomes extremely difficult. Apple has shown in its report of social responsibility that they have got 92 percent compliance with their standard of sixty work hours per week and they are still working closely with their suppliers to narrow down this gap. Apple has created extensive training not only for their employees but also with management in order to train them on the laws, labor rights and health
References: Apple - Supplier Responsibility - Labor and Human Rights. (2013). Apple - Supplier Responsibility - Labor and Human Rights. Retrieved July 20, 2014, from http://www.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/labor-and-human-rights.html Apple Supplier Responsibility - 2013 Progress Report. (2013). Apple Supplier Responsibility. Apple Corporation. Retrieved From <http://images.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/pdf/Apple_SR_2013_Progress_Report.pdf> Beer, J. (2012, October 24). Samsung’s phones are outselling Apple’s-but how?.Canadian Business. Retrieved July 21, 2014, from http://www.canadianbusiness.com/technology-news/samsungs-phones-are-outselling-apples-but-how/ Blancard, B. (2012, March 7). Apple, Foxconn Scandal Highlights Exploitation Of Chinese Workers By Foreign Firms.The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 21, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/07/apple-foxconn-scandal_n_1325930.html China Labor Watch (2013). Chinese Workers Exploited by U.S.-owned IPhone Supplier. Rep. Retrieved from < http://www.chinalaborwatch.org/pdf/Jabil_Green_Point.final.pdf> Mickenzie, A. (2012). Apple Ethics and Social Responsibility. Nisen, M. (2013). Samsung Has A Totally Different Strategy From Apple, And It 's Working Great. Business Insider. Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-corporate-strategy-2013-3